88 replies to this topic

[ACE]

Owen, far back as Beyond Borders, does not WANT to do James Bond.

True, very true. But perhaps he might be, how you say? Persuaded. With 20 million bucks or so!

Whoareyou? Milton Krest?
Sometimes, it is not just a question of money.
Guy wants a career of a certain shape and type.
Would you do certain things for $20 mil?

[Seannery]

[quote name='Loomis' date='6 September 2005 - 18:42']
[quote name='Seannery' date='6 September 2005 - 17:37']Of the old Jackman v. Owen debate I was always on Hugh's side.

[tdalton]

Owen, far back as Beyond Borders, does not WANT to do James Bond.

True, very true. But perhaps he might be, how you say? Persuaded. With 20 million bucks or so!

I doubt it.

First of all, I'd rather have an actor who actually wants to be James Bond, rather than someone who'se simply playing the part just to pick up a sizeable paycheck. The last time that we saw someone who purely played the part for a paycheck (Connery in DAF), it didn't turn out very well.

[Loomis]

[quote name='ACE' date='6 September 2005 - 17:49'][quote name='Loomis' date='6 September 2005 - 17:44'][quote name='ACE' date='6 September 2005 - 17:33']Owen, far back as Beyond Borders, does not WANT to do James Bond.

[/quote]

True, very true. But perhaps he might be, how you say? Persuaded. With 20 million bucks or so!

[/quote]
Whoareyou? Milton Krest?
Sometimes, it is not just a question of money.
Guy wants a career of a certain shape and type.
Would you do certain things for $20 mil?

[/quote]

As I've said, it's possible that Owen would refuse even a "Tom Cruise salary" to play Bond.

But I'm sure he'd have to think about it pretty hard. I'm not saying he's motivated purely by money, but he's only human. And I doubt that there's an actor alive - with the possible exception of yer Cruises and yer Hankses - who wouldn't need to think twice before turning down a (purely hypothetical) seriously generous offer from Sony and Eon.

Owen is already famous and hugely acclaimed, with plenty of exciting choices, and presumably a lot of money. It looks as though he's now living the career he's always dreamed of.

So he can now make, what? $5 million a picture? $8 million? $10 million? But which roles would offer him the financial opportunities of Bond? How much money has Brosnan made out of four Bond films (and opportunities he'd never have had had he not been Bond, such as THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR and adverts)?

Will Owen get his own lucrative action franchise one of these days, earning him a fortune a la Mel Gibson with LETHAL WEAPON or Matt Damon with Bourne? Possibly, but it's not a dead cert. Seems to me that such opportunities are pretty rare for British actors in Hollywood, even at Owen's (or Hugh Grant's) level.

It's not as though Owen makes a "serious", "worthy", "art house" picture every time out. If you're going to do a film like KING ARTHUR, you might as well do Bond, IMO. Even BEYOND BORDERS was ultimately just romantic fluff, even though it has a serious and worthy side (delusions of seriousness and worthiness, some might say).

Here's a fantasy future filmography for Owen, to show that he could play Bond and still do "interesting stuff", combining the "commercial" with the "arty":

2006: THE KUNG FU KILLERS - Owen has a small but memorable role as a sadistic British army officer in Quentin Tarantino's action epic about Chinese martial artists and American soldiers of fortune hunting buried treasure in China during the Opium Wars (also stars Zhang Ziyi, Sylvester Stallone, Lucy Liu, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Pfeiffer, Clint Eastwood....).

2006: CASINO ROYALE

2007: HAZE - Big budget Tony Scott action thriller in which Owen stars as a disgraced London cop who becomes a bodyguard for a shady tycoon in Los Angeles, and for some reason is forced to go on the run from both said tycoon and his private army and the LAPD, cue loads of car chases, explosions and shootouts, and, hopefully, healthy grosses.

2007: SEXED UP - Owen wins rave reviews as a Labour MP in Oliver Stone's conspiracy thriller, set in Washington and London during the runup to the second Gulf War. Timothy Dalton is a memorable Geoff Hoon.

2007: Owen does something or another in theatre in London for a short while, a la Nicole Kidman in "The Blue Room" at the Donmar Warehouse.

2008: THEY SHOOT KANGAROOS, DON'T THEY? Owen stars alongside Nicole Kidman in Wong Kar-Wai's first film financed by a major Hollywood studio. Set in Sydney, with Owen and Kidman as husband-and-wife retired doctors who take over a rundown hotel in which a mysterious Japanese man (Takeshi Kitano) has been occupying a room for 30 years, writing a book he claims will give readers eternal life. A major box office flop, but many critics go wild over it, and it "looks interesting" on Owen's CV.

2008: BOND 22

And so on....

[quote name='tdalton' date='6 September 2005 - 17:55']First of all, I'd rather have an actor who actually wants to be James Bond, rather than someone who'se simply playing the part just to pick up a sizeable paycheck.

[MarJil]

1. Cast Gerard Butler as Bond.  He will deliver the cool, the -kicking, the athleticism, the sexiness, the sardonic wit, and the charismatic machismo that will put both male and female bums in seats.  He will be the best Bond since Connery.  Don't wait.  Do it.  Hire him.  Now.

2. Use the Bond films of the 60's as blueprints.  Study their essence--the cool, the effortless style, the elan.  Note that their use of action is intended to excite and advance the plot.  Adhere to the "Bumps Formula" if you must, but don't shoehorn in superfluous action sequences that drag the pace of the film down.

3. Inject a measured dose of "the element of the bizarre".

4. Be brave, be ballsy, and go for it.  Don't compromise for fear of upsetting some demographic.  And don't apologize for the excesses of Bond-dom.

You are wise, Bon-san. One for each point you made, cuz they were all perfect, and said everything I would.

[spynovelfan]

Loomis, my man - it's not going to happen. However you slice it, it doesn't make sense. He *might* be able to do the Tarantino and Wong Kar Wai stuff with Bond - he will be able to do them without. He'll do action films - he's making SHOOT 'EM UP right now. But he's decided, I'm sure (and I don't blame him) that Bond would be likely to close off avenues. And it *probably would*. That's why even Julian fricking McMahon seems to have been advised not to audition. Bond may now be a white elephant. I wonder if even Dancy wouldn't turn it down, you know. Craig. People many think shouldn't be asked. Rikki Lee Travolta's having a think about it.

ACE has finally come to terms with the fact it won't be Pierce. We have to accept it won't be Cliveybabes. I know. But we'll live.

Alessandra's tennis-player is Ian Fleming's James Bond in CASINO ROYALE...

[tdalton]

[quote name='Loomis' date='6 September 2005 - 14:36'][quote name='tdalton' date='6 September 2005 - 17:55']First of all, I'd rather have an actor who actually wants to be James Bond, rather than someone who'se simply playing the part just to pick up a sizeable paycheck.

[Loomis]

Loomis, my man - it's not going to happen. However you slice it, it doesn't make sense. ... ACE has finally come to terms with the fact it won't be Pierce. We have to accept it won't be Cliveybabes. I know. But we'll live.

Right. I'm pinning my hopes on Craig, then.

Except.... if everyone's being advised to turn Bond down, what chance is there of Craig? Not much, as far as I can see.

Be quite funny if all of the "final four" turned it down. Including Stewart.

[Agent 76]

Remember the name is Bond, James Bond. British agent and best hope in times of trouble.

Aleluyah!

[Bondesque]

1. Watch From Russia With Love 100 times.

2. Have EVERYONE attached to the film in any way watch From Russia With Love 100 times.

3. Cast Butler as Bond. He is the right age, he WANTS the role and has that sexy swagger that Bond needs. He looks better then Craig and is cheaper then Owen or Jackman. He is a good actor on the rise. Butler is 6'2" in great shape and has the cocky self confidence that Bond has. He's a man man and not ashamed of it.

4. Be proud of the fact that Bond is a male cheuvenist, misogonistic dinosaur. Let him bed/seduce three girls per film. Revel in his hedonistic ways.

5. Give us the travelogue feel. Choose exotic and beautiful locations and make the audience want to visit.

6. Get Mathiew Vaughn to Direct the next one. He would give the series exactly the "cool" factor it needs.

7. Pick beautiful leading ladies that can act but NOT be Bonds fellow agent. Pick Bond girls who LIKE BEING BOND GIRLS not Bond women.

8. Write depth into the characters, especially the villian. Give them REASONS to do what they are doing.

9. Stop the stupid gadgets and pathetic one liners that are right out of the locker room. At least bring it up a few levels from Junior High School. If anyone suggest CGI or an invisible car put two loads being the right ear...immediately!

10. Watch From Russian With Love 100 more times!

[ACE]

Bondesque

Your woolly liberal views will get you nowhere!

These days they'd as soon as play FRWL 100 times rather than watch it.

ACE

Edited by ACE, 06 September 2005 - 08:55 PM.

[Alessandra]

Recent reports show Eon/Sony in flux and not sure what exact direction to go in with CR and finding a new Bond.  It seems Michael and Babs along with Sony can't all seem to agree with what actor to take as Bond.  The script is being polished and at least tweaked to some degree.  New screen tests are due in September with some fresh "finalists" and according to the Times there may be a Bond summit this week to try to decide on what to do and what actor to take as Bond.

So to help our friends in Eon, lets give them the benefit of our Bond "wisdom" and passion in the form of advice.   What should they do?  Who should they test?  Who should they pick?  I'll start:



1.) Give us the cool, confident, suave Bond and NOT another psychobabble "this time its personal" story.  Please forget the pyschological angst.

2.) Don't give us a dour Bourne clone.  Make it more serious if you will BUT don't lose the traditions, charm and special aspects of a Bond film that distinguish Bond from all other films and series.

3.) If you insist on going for an early mission Bond--don't make Bond too young.  He's a seasoned Commander coming to Mi6.  Make him from 31 to 36 or so.

4.) Hire an actor as 007 who ON FILM can convincingly portray an agent aged 31 to 36.  This would include someone younger pehaps who can play older OR someone older who can play younger.  BE FLEXIBLE TO FIND THE BEST BOND POSSIBLE.

5.) Don't lose the cheek and humor elements of Bond.

6.) Please don't insist on an early mission Bond.  If you make a smart clever "regular" Bond then people of all ages will flock to see it.  FOCUS ON THE SCRIPT AND IDEAS--Haggis is a good step!

7.) If you are looking for a Bond who isn't too big and costly and you want a Bond who has the looks, talent and toughness then pick ADRIAN PAUL, GERARD BUTLER or JAMES PUREFOY.  Adrian Paul and James Purefoy can pass easily in CR as a 33, 34, 35 year old.  ADRIAN PAUL even looks a little younger than Purefoy and is so truly and naturally Bondian.  He is the natural Bond of this time and an underrated talent.

8.) Also consider as a good Bond--Daniel Craig, Dougray Scott, Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Northam, Hugh Grant, Julian McMahon, Ioan Gruffudd.

9.) If you want to really spend money then pay big time to lure Pierce back OR convince Hugh Jackman to take the role.

10.) Good luck!



Well that's mine.  What is yours?

Seannery, I am with you on most of this... except I want number 9 to be number ONE! lol
Dear Mr-Mrs-MS Sony-EON-Broccoli...GO FOR HUGH JACKMAN!!
and don't listen to spy who's already LOST every hope to land the best possible Bond (Jackman that is). Spy.. always aim for perfection... there's ALWAYS time for second best in life. (and no that's not a movie line, that is pure Alessandra thinking! lol)
btw, this applies to producers too.. YOU HEAR ME?? ALWAYS AIM FOR PERFECTION!! THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR SECOND BEST IN LIFE!! WHICH MEANS, STOP FOOLING AROUND WITH THIS MOVIE AND DO SOMETHING!! AND THAT SOMETHING IS: PICK THE BEST ACTOR FOR THE FILM! YOU SPEND MONEY NOW, YOU'LL BE REWARDED WITH GREAT BOX OFFICE RESULTS! It's called INVESTING WISELY! lol
now mention a single woman who wouldn't be at least curious to go see Jackman as Bond... that alone would make HEAPS of profits! (I just KNOW you know it.) This not to mention the fact teens like Jackman a lot because of the x-men franchise.. so you'd finally have a wider younger audience come to the theaters to watch Bond!
JUST GET MOVING!!
and consult Seannery in any case before the final choice. lol

[Alessandra]

 marat_angry.jpg   48.93KB   24 downloads

Loomis, my man - it's not going to happen. However you slice it, it doesn't make sense. He *might* be able to do the Tarantino and Wong Kar Wai stuff with Bond - he will be able to do them without. He'll do action films - he's making SHOOT 'EM UP right now. But he's decided, I'm sure (and I don't blame him) that Bond would be likely to close off avenues. And it *probably would*. That's why even Julian fricking McMahon seems to have been advised not to audition. Bond may now be a white elephant. I wonder if even Dancy wouldn't turn it down, you know. Craig. People many think shouldn't be asked. Rikki Lee Travolta's having a think about it.

ACE has finally come to terms with the fact it won't be Pierce. We have to accept it won't be Cliveybabes. I know. But we'll live.

Alessandra's tennis-player is Ian Fleming's James Bond in CASINO ROYALE...

ahahahahhahahahahha omg.. I had missed this one.... you have NO idea how you cracked me up with this spy... well well.. you sure DO KNOW Marat Safin don't you??? well here he is.. this is THE LEAST his enemies in Bond would get if he gets A LITTLE annoyed... lol

[Alex Zamudio]

EON, Take any of the following 3:

1-Re-Hire Brosnan pay him what he wants, he

[Alessandra]

ah right. I forgot to mention..
a) Marat is notably a lover of casinos, nightlife and a SERIOUSLY dangerous womanizer
he's a lover of risks, never wants to win the game easy, always uses the most difficult solution and always complicates his life (and makes our coronaries crack at every game! lol)
c) he already has his very own Bond girls, they are called "safinettes". NO KIDDING.. ask any tennis expert and they'll confirm all of the above. about three to four blondes were following him during a match and journos asked him "who are those girls?" Marat answered "my girlfriends". Now this is what I call a Bond-style answer. Only he said it FOR REAL.
Don't know anyone that comes any closer to Bond being his real self as Marat does. LOL
oh right..and this is him when he looks like even too much of a nice guy..

[Pussfeller]

1. Brosnan was never worth it.
2. Don't worry about finding a high-priced "name" candidate -- cast an unknown.
3. Have Haggis completely rewrite the script -- don't stop at a polish.
4. Get rid of Judi Dench -- completely change the cast.
5. Bring back Felix Leiter, with or without his handicap.

[hrabb04]

Pussfeller, you want Brosnan back more than anyone else, just admit it:)

[Alex Zamudio]

Get rid of Judi Dench --

I do agree with you on this one a 100%

EON, if you are developing an early 007 mission, you must GET RID of Judy Dench!!

I can't believe EON doesn't get it!!

Regards.

[Loeffelholz]

See, Eon? It's just that simple! Follow the concisely-stated and consensus-oriented advice, as detailed above, and your problems are all behind you.

[Pussfeller]

I wonder if any of the high-ranking EON producers has ever wandered onto a fan forum like this one. Surely they're Internet users, and surely they're curious about fan opinion, if only for laughs.

In reality, I bet they avoid forums as a rule.

[Loeffelholz]

I wonder if any of the high-ranking EON producers has ever wandered onto a fan forum like this one. Surely they're Internet users, and surely they're curious about fan opinion, if only for laughs.

In reality, I bet they avoid forums as a rule.

They ought to, unless they invest heavily in an antacid company, like Rolaids or Tums.

[spynovelfan]

ah right. I forgot to mention..
a) Marat is notably a lover of casinos, nightlife and a SERIOUSLY dangerous womanizer
he's a lover of risks, never wants to win the game easy, always uses the most difficult solution and always complicates his life (and makes our coronaries crack at every game! lol)
c) he already has his very own Bond girls, they are called "safinettes". NO KIDDING.. ask any tennis expert and they'll confirm all of the above. about three to four blondes were following him during a match and journos asked him "who are those girls?" Marat answered "my girlfriends". Now this is what I call a Bond-style answer. Only he said it FOR REAL.
Don't know anyone that comes any closer to Bond being his real self as Marat does. LOL
oh right..and this is him when he looks like even too much of a nice guy..

Looks old and like his face is about to fall off, Alessandra. My grandmother looks in better shape, and she's been dead 12 years. Look at the angle of his shoulders.

[Daltonfan]

1. Don't settle for the mediocre. Hire the best and expect the best whether it's driector, screenwriter or actors.

2. Take it seriously. There are enough Bond spoofs around without you adding to them.

3. If actors are reluctant to play Bond, listen to their reasons.

- Is there anything you can do to counteract the fear of becomig typecast? Instead of fearing the actor may damage the Bond image, perhaps you should encourage diversity.

- Are you trying to treat your star as the hired hand rather than a business partner? Sure, if you pick an unknown or second-rate actor they'll be grateful for the first film, but once you've made them a star they may expect to be treated like one.

4. Improve communications. It's clear that people in the business are as confused as the fans. When you have a number of actors who are unclear whether they've received a genuine approach, have been fired etc, it make you look incompetent.

5. A more open approach with the media reduces the risk that they will make you look foolish. The "too short, not masculine enough, not good-looking enough" dismissal of leading actors in the recent Hollywood Reporter article makes you look stupid and arrogant.

[Alessandra]

ah right. I forgot to mention..
a) Marat is notably a lover of casinos, nightlife and a SERIOUSLY dangerous womanizer
he's a lover of risks, never wants to win the game easy, always uses the most difficult solution and always complicates his life (and makes our coronaries crack at every game! lol)
c) he already has his very own Bond girls, they are called "safinettes". NO KIDDING.. ask any tennis expert and they'll confirm all of the above. about three to four blondes were following him during a match and journos asked him "who are those girls?" Marat answered "my girlfriends". Now this is what I call a Bond-style answer. Only he said it FOR REAL.
Don't know anyone that comes any closer to Bond being his real self as Marat does. LOL
oh right..and this is him when he looks like even too much of a nice guy..

Looks old and like his face is about to fall off, Alessandra. My grandmother looks in better shape, and she's been dead 12 years. Look at the angle of his shoulders.

>ahahahhaha NICE TRY spy
top tennis athlete, top ladies' man, top funny guy in tennis... that's the prob with Marat. You would say he's on the A list like Hugh!!
Marat is not goodlooking.. he's a MAJOR HUNK!!

[Alessandra]

1. Don't settle for the mediocre. Hire the best and expect the best whether it's driector, screenwriter or actors.

2. Take it seriously. There are enough Bond spoofs around without you adding to them.

3. If actors are reluctant to play Bond, listen to their reasons.

- Is there anything you can do to counteract the fear of becomig typecast? Instead of fearing the actor may damage the Bond image, perhaps you should encourage diversity.

- Are you trying to treat your star as the hired hand rather than a business partner? Sure, if you pick an unknown or second-rate actor they'll be grateful for the first film, but once you've made them a star they may expect to be treated like one.

4. Improve communications. It's clear that people in the business are as confused as the fans. When you have a number of actors who are unclear whether they've received a genuine approach, have been fired etc, it make you look incompetent.

5. A more open approach with the media reduces the risk that they will make you look foolish. The "too short, not masculine enough, not good-looking enough" dismissal of leading actors in the recent Hollywood Reporter article makes you look stupid and arrogant.

ESPECIALLY on no.5 I am completely with you. I read that too, and although it was only based on REPORTS (which brings us back to your no.4, improving communications) it really made them look stupid and arrogant for what it said. I still think that this "relatively unknown" thing is only what in Italian we call "specchietto per le allodole". (a game of smoke and mirrors in English). Brosnan at his first movie with Bond was FAR more popular in Italy, France, Spain than Hugh Jackman is now (I am obviously making the example of my country and countries nearby as I know them well.). As I was saying yesterday, Jackman may be very popular among US, UK and Australia, but in the rest of the world he is not. In my office (Journalists I mean, not people who aren't into this), only TWO people out of 14 knew who he was when I asked! in our Rome bureau the only two people who knew him were not Italian and said "he was in that Meg Ryan movie"..most said they had maybe heard the name but wouldn't recognize a photo. to make others understand who Jackman is (and in half of the cases it wasn't enough) I had to say "the guy who played opposite Meg Ryan in Kate & Leopold" (NOBODY aside from ONE colleague from the U.S. HAD THE FAINTEST IDEA WHAT X-MEN IS... I guess it's because it's more of a teen stuff rather than 30 somethings stuff..). Which makes me think it wouldn't be THAT much of a damage to Jackman's career to do Bond. Besides I repeat.. there's no such thing as MONEY in those cases. AND most of all.. the only words Jackman has pronounced to the press on Bond are as follows :
"There is something very secretive about the way they cast the role. I've never had an official call asking, 'Are you interested or not?'
"But there's no guy I know that wouldn't want that role - and that includes me."

NOT EXACTLY SOMETHING WHICH SHOWS HIS NON WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON THE ROLE.
IT IS, AS USUAL, JUST A MATTER OF MONEY AT THIS POINT. THE SAME REASON WHY PIERCE WALKED OUT.

[Seannery]

[quote name='Alessandra' date='6 September 2005 - 22:33'][quote name='Seannery' date='6 September 2005 - 15:45']Recent reports show Eon/Sony in flux and not sure what exact direction to go in with CR and finding a new Bond.

[dnob semaj]

Bondesque

Your woolly liberal views will get you nowhere! 

These days they'd as soon as play FRWL 100 times rather than watch it.

ACE

Right on Ace... and great comments on Sony Pictures above as well...rabbits and frogs eh? Yeah. I saw that.
(bondesque, i do agree with what you are saying)

QUOTE(Loeffelholz @ 22 August 2005 - 15:07)
I think we should try to divest ourselves from the notion of Bond being locked into a chronology which began in 1962.....

Perfect as well.
It was said above by someone else more eloquently...but Bond is the man playing the part. Get that right, take the time it takes and just do it. Get a bond that wants to play him and that will become him. Not just visit the tuxedo so to speak.

Tell Sony to shut up and pay up, they'll get their money back a million-shazillion times over.(hate to get all finacial on you guys and gals)

Wider views of the great LOCATIONS. If you can't get some third world plss-hole because of politics or what not, take your stinking money (and our money as it really is...we ultimately pay for this) somewhere else. The world is a beautiful place....some of the best locations have been just that because of the cultures envolved and the local rituals and what not.

[Alessandra]

[quote name='Seannery' date='7 September 2005 - 17:30']
[quote name='Alessandra' date='6 September 2005 - 22:33'][quote=Seannery,6 September 2005 - and consult Seannery in any case before the final choice. lol

[/quote]




Eon just consult Alessandra and Seannery and all will be well in the world of Bond.

[/quote]

LMAO! so ok Seannery, it's official. WE'RE ON! Ms Broccoli, please gracefully bow out and let me enjoy my time hiring Hugh Jackman.. cause I DO find him masculine enough... LOL
Seannery will first of all take care of the bond girls. And then we'll work on all the rest...

[Frankie]

8.) Also consider as a good Bond--Daniel Craig, Dougray Scott, Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Northam, Hugh Grant, Julian McMahon, Ioan Gruffudd.

9.) If you want to really spend money then pay big time to lure Pierce back OR convince Hugh Jackman to take the role.

I hate #8 but absolutely LOVE #9

[Eye Of The Tiger]

#1. Bring back Pierce Brosnan for at least one more film, and even two more would be fine!

#2. If you can't convince Pierce Brosnan to come back no-matter-what, then absolutely get Hugh Jackman!

#3. If for some reason you can't get either Brosnan or Jackman, then either get Clive Owen or James Purefoy, but only after you have made every possible attempt to get Brosnan or Jackman!

#4. If you are not able to get Brosnan, Jackman, Owen or Purefoy, then it is time for the James Bond franchise to go into a very long hiatus, because a Bond film with any of the other so-called "contenders" will be a totally inferior movie that will ruin the franchise!